Gaoshan Platform Beacon Tower

Gaoshan Platform Beacon Tower

Gaoshan Beacon Tower

Gaoshan Platform is a small hill located on the southwest bank of the Liu River, four kilometers west of Zhangwu County. The hill runs from north to south, winding and undulating, resembling a galloping dragon or a crouching tiger. It is not very high, with an elevation of only 175 meters. At the summit of Gaoshan Platform stands a weathered beacon tower. The tower is square-shaped with a base side length of 9 meters and a top side length of 8 meters. It is built with blue bricks and white lime mortar, with each brick measuring 40.2 cm in length, 17.2 cm in width, and 10.2 cm in thickness. The southern side of the tower is 8.49 meters high, the western side is 6 meters high, the northern side is 6.57 meters high, and the eastern side has gradually eroded into a sloped shape. In June 1985, the People's Government of Fuxin City designated it as a municipal-level cultural relics protection unit.

The beacon tower was originally built in the seventh year of the Zhengtong era of the Ming Dynasty (1442 AD) and is one of the external wall beacon platforms of the Ming Dynasty's Great Wall defense system. During ancient warfare, when facing invasions, smoke signals were used during the day and fire signals at night to transmit messages, playing an irreplaceable historical role.

To preserve this historical site and restore the beacon tower to its original appearance, in 1997, the People's Government of Zhangwu County listed the restoration of the beacon tower as one of ten major projects benefiting the local people. After restoration, the top width of the beacon tower is 8.7 meters, the bottom width is 9.7 meters, and the tower height is 8.7 meters, bringing the long history of Zhangwu back to life.

Protection area: within 35 meters outside the base of the tower.

Construction control zone: within 20 meters outside the protection area is the first-class construction control zone, and within 50 meters outside the first-class control zone is the second-class construction control zone.

Gaoshan Platform Village: Gaoshan Platform Village…… Detailed information about Gaoshan Platform Village++

Further reading:

· Sixth Batch of Liaoning Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units